Five for Friday: November 3, 2023
Curated by: The Western Nevada Development District…
This edition of Five for Friday focuses on opportunities for economic development around the region in the areas of energy, electric vehicles, entrepreneur funding, strategic planning, and conservation.
Grant Opportunities & More
Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, health care, and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal, and high-poverty areas.
Renewable Energy System grants up to $1 million.
Energy Efficiency grants up to $500,000 (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels).
Next Application Deadlines:
December 31, 2023
March 31, 2024
June 30, 2024
Contact: USDA Rural Development State Office
Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Grants
The Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator is making up to $100 million available for building a convenient, affordable, reliable, equitable, and Made-in-America electric vehicle (EV) charging network along the Nation’s highways and within communities. The first round of funding made available in this program will focus on repairing or replacing non-operational EV chargers. Eligible applicants include State departments of transportation and local governments. States and localities are encouraged to coordinate to the extent possible to address broken and non-operational chargers.
Application Deadline: November 13, 2023
Funding Great Ideas for the Common Good
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation borrows from its venture capital legacy to create a simple yet unique model for working with social entrepreneurs: they find, fund and support leaders with exceptional promise and impactful ideas that have the potential to scale. Through exhaustive due diligence on hundreds of potential portfolio opportunities, including working in close contact with networks and institutions across the public, private and non-profit sectors, a select group of exceptional leaders and organizations become part of their portfolio. The year-round application process seeks exceptional entrepreneurs and provides them with three years of unrestricted capital (totaling $300,000) as well as rigorous on-going support by joining their board of directors for the 3 years and partnering with the leader to help them to build capacity.
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
GOED’s Main Street Program Seeking Input for Strategic Plan
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Main Street Program is seeking input in the development of individual community plans through a survey in addition to planning workshops scheduled throughout the state. It is a holistic approach to downtown revitalization that includes historic preservation, community development, beautification, and economic vitality. GOED has partnered with the University Center for Economic Development (UCED), part of the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, to develop individual community Main Street strategic plans and a new statewide Nevada Main Street Program strategic plan. As part of this effort, GOED staff and UCED faculty will host a series of strategic planning workshops with the WNDD community Main Street stakeholders that include:
Winnemucca: November 6 and 7, 2023
Grant Program Preserves Forests, Promotes Public Access
The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program (Community Forest Program) of the U.S. Forest Service offers a unique opportunity for communities to acquire and conserve forests that provide public access and recreational opportunities, protect vital water supplies and wildlife habitat, serve as demonstration sites for private forest landowners, and provide economic benefits from timber and non-timber products. Interested local government and nonprofit applicants must submit applications to the State Forester where the property is located. Tribal applicants must submit applications to equivalent Tribal government officials.
Award Ceiling: $600,000
Application Deadline to State Foresters or Tribal governments: January 12, 2024
